The WFH has been working in partnership with the ministry of health (MOH) and the national member organization (NMO) in Morocco for many years—always with the goal of helping the country along the road to sustainable care. Programmatic support was delivered in the past through the WFH Global Alliance for Progress (GAP) program. More recently, it has been provided through a WFH Hemophilia Organization (HOT) Twinning between Morocco and France as well as through country programs. These efforts have made it possible to train hematologists, nurses, musculoskeletal professionals, and laboratory specialists. One of the most encouraging outcomes of these efforts has been strengthening advocacy efforts and increasing care levels in the country. This support—together with close policy dialogue with the Direction de l’Epidémiologie et de Lutte contre les Maladies in the MOH—have contributed to the adoption of a national care program for bleeding disorders. At the same time, treatment product donations and training provided by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program have played a big role in increasing access to care. Regionally, Morocco hosted the 4th HEMNET Forum in 2022. At the global level, the WFH has partnered with Morocco to advocate with the World Health Organization (WHO) for increased global access to care and treatment.
The country visit by the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program team included spending time at a hemophilia treatment centre (HTC), and with a family who has a child with an inherited bleeding disorder. This latter visit allowed members of the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program to hear about the challenges faced by people with bleeding disorders (PWBDs) in Morocco.
Sitting down with the mother, father, and their two boys, Glenn Pierce, MD, PhD, WFH Vice President, Medical—who has hemophilia—shared his personal story and professional insights, explaining how advances in treatment have drastically improved his quality of life. When asked to share his own experiences, one of the brothers described how hemophilia had initially impacted his life, restricting his ability to play with friends or attend school regularly. His mother explained how she had to accompany him to school every day to protect him from potential bullying or accidents, as his peers and teachers were unfamiliar with hemophilia. Now that he has access to prophylactic treatment thanks to the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, his acute bleeds have stopped, allowing him to live a more normal life.
Mark Skinner, WFH USA board member, echoed Pierce’s experiences, recalling his own childhood without access to treatment in a rural area far from medical facilities. He described the physical toll that untreated hemophilia had on his body, including joint damage. Skinner emphasized the importance of education for children with hemophilia, despite the physical challenges they might face.
Also joining the conversation was Cesar Garrido, President of the WFH. Garrido shared a personal story about raising his son, who also has hemophilia, and the emotional strain that came with the condition, especially during late-night episodes of pain. Garrido spoke about how his family managed to help his son live a fulfilling life. His advice was clear: education and proper training for managing hemophilia are crucial.
Throughout the visit, the family in Casablanca shared how important the local hemophilia association has been for them. They spoke about how meeting other families and exchanging experiences has been a source of support and strength. They also shared how knowing that their experiences are similar to other people’s—including the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program team members—was a source of encouragement and hope for them. As the conversation wrapped up, Garrido reinforced the message of love and education, reminding the family that with the right care, their child could live a normal life.
The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program has donated over 30 million IUs of factor to Morocco since 2015. Nearly 7.3 million IUs of factor were donated in 2023 alone. To find out more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, please click here.
About the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program
The WFH Humanitarian Aid Program improves the lack of access to care and treatment by providing much-needed support for people with inherited bleeding disorders in developing countries. By providing patients with a more predictable and sustainable flow of humanitarian aid donations, the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program makes it possible for patients to receive consistent and reliable access to treatment and care. None of this would be possible without the generous support of Sanofi and Sobi, our Founding Visionary Contributors; Bayer, CSL Behring and Roche, our Visionary Contributors; Grifols, our Leadership Contributor; and Takeda and Japan Blood Products Organization, our Contributors. To learn more about the WFH Humanitarian Aid Program, visit www.treatmentforall.org.
